by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 551 U.S. colleges awarded 16,833 degrees and certificates in Organizational Leadership. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 58% of graduates. College Factual ranks 290 schools in its 2027 Best Organizational Leadership Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
Studying Organizational Leadership explores Organizational Leadership. A Program That Focuses On Leadership Skills That Can Be Applied To A Business, Government, Non-Profit, Or Educational Setting. Includes Instruction In Organizational Planning, Dynamics Of Leadership, Finance, Team Building, Conflict Resolution And Mediation, Communication And Other Management Skills. Examples: [Leadership Studies], [Nonprofit Leadership Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, organizational leadership draws strong interest, with 16,833 degrees awarded annually. 551 colleges award organizational leadership degrees, an average of 31 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,370.
By level, the 16,833 awards include 69 certificates, 400 associate degrees, 5,135 bachelor’s degrees, 9,716 master’s degrees and 1,454 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of organizational leadership degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,871 of 16,833). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8,661) and Black or African American (2,981), and international students earned 421.
College Factual ranks 290 schools in its 2027 Best Organizational Leadership Schools ranking, including 47 for associate degrees, 207 for bachelor’s degrees, 218 for master’s degrees and 55 for doctorates. It also ranks organizational leadership schools within 43 states. In all, 551 colleges offer organizational leadership programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Organizational Leadership Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common organizational leadership credential is the master’s degree: 9,716 of the 16,833 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to organizational leadership call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an organizational leadership degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 69 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 400 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,135 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9,716 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,454 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to organizational leadership, at 62.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 62.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Some college courses | 5.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Organizational Leadership, with an average median salary of $108,787; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Development Director, Program Manager, Compliance Director and State Board of Nursing Educational Consultant.
The occupation related to organizational leadership with the most projected jobs is Management Analysts, at 484,759.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
Organizational Leadership graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to organizational leadership is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
Organizational Leadership has 15 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 404,919 degrees a year; the largest are Business Administration and Management, General (352,768), Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704) and Operations Management and Supervision (11,915). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 352,768 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,704 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 11,915 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 11,775 |
| Project Management | 6,038 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 2,975 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,443 |
| Retail Management | 1,363 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 805 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 506 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
